Nice light weight set up 10ringer. I am doing something similar, but am still incorporating the guide lid. Although its a little heavier with it, I think it gives me a lot more options when needed and quick access to stuff in the lid without having to even open the bag at all. I plan to switch over to a OGL lid to see if it will work even better.
Like discussed in my previous post...I did away with two of the three belt pouches that can attach to the bottom section of pals on the bag. That improved the ability of the bag to compress down for day mode and cut about 6 oz. I kept the one belt pouch on the bag in the middle for my first aid kit. I like having it on the outside of the bag. I cut myself with a saw in 2018 while cutting wood, and having it on the outside was MONEY. While dripping blood from my hand, I didn't have to reach down deep into the bag to find the first aid kit, but that's another topic all together....LOL
My current Reckoning set up goes something like this:
I removed the two straps that are used for securing the lid (referenced in the Kifaru reckoning video that aron did, part 1 at the 4;16 mark). I keep them stored in the back of the lid in case I need them. I have the longer set that go from under the bottom of the bag, coming all the way up and over to tie into the guide lid, (or the snow collar if I remove the guide lid and want to leave it at camp). The straps are on either side of the Medium belt pouch in the center lower portion (where the first aid kit goes), and they don't interfere with the center zip at all. The two lower buckle sets that attach at the center (over the center zip for compression are only used when I carry a rifle on the back of the pack or my tripod. The barrel slides in behind the guide lid, the stock sits down into the medium belt pouch and the buckles are used to secure the rifle. When not used for that purpose, they are simply left unbuckled and cinched over to the sides unless I need the compression. I wish they would have used open ended females for those 3 buckles, but mine appeared to be sewn into the loops. I could cut them out and swap them at some point if I feel the need.
And this is how everything will work in theory....I haven't run the bag set up this way for a hunt yet, but I don't see why this wont work well.
To access the center zip at the bottom of the bag, unclip the two straps securing the lid, flip it up out of the way, and center zip is accessible without undoing any more straps/clips. If I want to do away with the lid completely, the two straps from the bottom of the bag can go all the way up and buckle the snow collar down by using two opened ended female buckles at the snow collar. I keep two extras on the snow collar to make it easier, but I could detach them from the guide lid when needed if I wanted to and save maybe an ounce I guess.
The full length side pockets are still available for carrying spotter and tripod, trekking poles etc. If not carrying spotter/tripod, one of those pockets is where I stuff my rain jacket and puffy coat for quick access.
Hope I explained that in a way that made sense. I came up with this new set up over the winter, and will try it out on spring turkey in NM in about 2 months....counting down!!
OH....and lastly,, I can put everything back to "stock configuration" if I need to when carrying a heavier load on a multi day trip or meat trip. All the original pieces are still carried. I would just need to re-configure the straps and connection points back to their normal locations.